Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ‘winning’ look at Chet Holmgren’s All-Star bid

OKLAHOMA CITY — After a 117-114 loss to the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder‘s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doubled why he thinks Chet Holmgren is an All-Star hitter this season. Ahead of the NBA announcing its All-Star roster for this year’s game in Los Angeles, Holmgren is on pace to earn his first appearance.

Gilgeous-Alexander reflected on Holmgren’s injury-riddled start to his NBA career, which began with Chet missing his entire rookie campaign. For Gilgeous-Alexander, injuries are the only reason Holmgren, in his third season, has never made an All-Star selection, and the SGA selection believes that will change next week.

“The company has kind of (been) plagued by injuries in the past, otherwise I would have had a few under my belt already,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “But his impact in winning is unmatched. And if you don’t win, it doesn’t matter. No matter where you go — from GM to owner to coach to player to fan — everyone wants to be a part of a winning team. And if you add Chet Holmgren to your group, you add wins.

“You saw it here firsthand. And he just continues to grow and get better with his skill and his game. I’m not sure what his stats are, but I feel like he’s having the best year of his career, offensively. Then, defensively, he’s a monster. It’s a no-brainer for me. He should definitely be an All-Star.”

If nothing else, SGA says the Thunder’s league-leading 37-9 record means the defending champions should have at least two players in this year’s All-Star Game, and that second player is undoubtedly Holmgren.

“We have the best record in the league so far,” added Gilgeous-Alexander. “So it would probably make sense to have more than one. I’ve never seen a one-man team have the best record in the league. So, yeah. Chet Holmgren.”

Gilgeous-Alexander was announced as the Western Conference starter last week.

Chet Holmgren gets All-Star praise from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Thunder failed to recover 18 points in a 117-114 loss to the Pacers, as Isaiah Joe’s 3-point attempt to send the game into overtime bounced off the rim at the Pike Center on Friday. The Pacers handed the Thunder their third loss at home before Shai Giljus-Alexander pointed to Chet Holmgren as a big reason why the defending champions have far more wins than losses this season.

After the 111-91 win against the Rockets, Gilgeous-Alexander talked about Holmgren deserving of an All-Star selection this season.

“Chet is definitely an All-Star,” Gilgeus-Alexander he told reporters. “From the moment he stepped on the court with the basketball team, we’ve been No. 1 in the West. That’s no accident.”

The NBA All-Star Reserves will be officially announced on February 1st.